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Safe Rides in Rensselaer and Bennington Counties
HOOSICK FALLS, NY - Revelers in counties on either side of the Vermont/New York border will have access to designated drivers should they have too much to drink.
Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino announced Tuesday that the county will once again offer the Safe Ride Program to residents who need a ride home on New Year’s Eve or the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.
The county is partnering with the Netters Fund and using volunteers and county owned vehicles to offer the rides, which are on a first-call, first-serve basis.
The Netters Fund is a group that pays for cab rides from participating establishments on a year-round basis. It was created by state Deputy Director of Public Safety Mark Balestreri in honor of his late wife, Annette Balestreri, who was known as "Netters."
This will be the first year that Bennington County is offering a Safe Ride program. Bennington County Sheriff Chad Schmidt said that the program is modeled after the one in New York and uses volunteers, prisoner transport vehicles and Bennington Taxi to offer rides.
Schmidt said volunteers will take people anywhere in the county and into nearby Hoosick. The rides in both states are free to anyone who calls between 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve and 3 a.m. New Year’s Day.
Those wishing to make use of the Bennington program should call 802-442-4900 during the hours of operation. Those wanting a Rensselaer County ride should call 518-271-2097 or 518-271-5105.
"Driving drunk is never the right choice and I am asking all residents to take extra caution especially if alcohol is part of the New Year’s celebrations and plan for a safe ride home," said Jimino.
By: Keith Whitcomb Featured in The Bennington Banner on 12/30/2009
